Going Polar for Save the Children

On a snow-covered beach in 32-degree weather, about 30 brave swimmers resolved to start their New Year with a splash — all for a good cause.

They lined up at Compo Beach in Westport around 10 a.m. Friday morning and dashed toward the ocean for the eighth annual Polar Plunge, hosted by local triathlon club Team Mossman.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Save the Children's Schools and Community Organizations, which works to meet educational needs at poor schools throughout the country. Save the Children works to create lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. 

The 2010 event was the largest one Team Mossman has seen since the first Polar Plunge eight years ago, and the first one where snow covered the beach.

Usually only 25 people attend, but this year there were 30, said Robin Myers, one of the event organizers. He jumped in the ocean twice, as did New Canaan resident Andrea Williamson-Hughes, who works for Save the Children.

Williamson-Hughes had the names of her coworkers painted on her body who vowed to pledge double the amount if she jumped in the ocean twice.

Myers was her witness and fellow polar plunger. 

Team Mossman hopes to raise more than the $1,445 they did last year. Myers said the donations should be tallied by Monday.

"It was a little cool but it was refreshing," Williamson-Hughes said. "There are people who are uncomfortable 365 days of the year, so to share solidarity with them we are uncomfortable for five minutes. The whole purpose is to raise awareness of Save the Children."

That's why Jurgen Schlate and his wife Alla joined the cause.

"My wife hopes once I turn older, I'll get some sanity," said 68-year-old Jurgen Schlate, who's taken the plunge the past four years.

Alla Schlate  joined him two years ago.

"When I first heard him doing this I thought he was crazy," she said. "But when I saw the camaraderie among the people who do it, I decided to do it too. It's exciting."

For Pete Ziegler and Dan Raposo, this was their first year taking the plunge.

Raposo, a Norwalk resident, heard about it from an employee of Save the Children.

"A girl in a Santa hat told me about it yesterday and I thought it was a great idea," Raposo said. "It was a great hangover cure."

Though the water was cold, Raposo said he didn't notice it.

"The worst part was standing in the snow barefoot," he said.

Luckily, swimmers were able to warm up with hot soup and bread from Bertucci's afterward.

As they walked to their cars with family and friends in tow, many were smiling and laughing about their icy adventure, stating they'll be back next year.

Regardless of the weather conditions, polar plungers are committed to the charitable tradition.

"I'm bringing booties next year," Raposo said.